Pest control materials

Abstract

A pest control material ( 11 ), such as mosquito netting, has a surface ( 12 ) with abrasive/absorptive microprojections ( 13 ). Insect pests such as mosquitoes suffer damage to their cuticle, resulting in dehydration and/or invasion by microbial pathogens. The material is made by coating a fabric with abrasive and/or absorptive materials.

1. A material comprising:
 a fabric defining a plurality of apertures there through; and 
 threads of the fabric disposed adjacent the apertures and having microprojections with uncoated abrasive or wax absorptive surfaces extending therefrom to partially occlude the apertures but allowing light and air to pass there through. 
 
     
     
       2. The material of  claim 1 , wherein the microprojections comprise particles extending out of a coating on the threads. 
     
     
       3. The material of  claim 2 , wherein the particles comprise a silica material. 
     
     
       4. The material of  claim 2 , wherein the particles have a particle size of at least 5 μm. 
     
     
       5. The material of  claim 2 , wherein the material comprises at least one of a net, a blanket, a hairnet, or a filter. 
     
     
       6. The material of  claim 1 , further comprising a chemical pest attractant. 
     
     
       7. The material of  claim 1 , further comprising a pathogen. 
     
     
       8. The material of  claim 1 , wherein the microprojections are thermofused to the threads of the fabric. 
     
     
       9. The material of  claim 1 , wherein the microprojections comprise one or more particulate materials with each particulate material being effective to abrade an exocuticle of an insect and to absorb wax from the exocuticle of the insect. 
     
     
       10. The material of  claim 1 , wherein the microprojections comprise one or more first particulate materials effective to abrade an exocuticle of an insect in combination with one or more second particulate materials effective to absorb wax from the exocuticle of the insect. 
     
     
       11. The material of  claim 1 , wherein the microprojections comprise a mixture of particulate materials that abrade an exocuticle of an insect, particulate materials that absorb wax from the exocuticle of the insect, and particulate materials that both abrade and absorb wax from the exocuticle of the insect. 
     
     
       12. A material comprising:
 a fabric comprising fibers defining a plurality of apertures there through and providing a physical barrier to pests; and 
 a coating material disposed on the fibers, the coating material comprising microprojections with uncoated surfaces extending proximate the apertures, the uncoated surfaces of the microprojections effective to abrade or absorb wax from an exocuticle of an insect when in contact with the fabric while allowing light and air to pass through the fabric. 
 
     
     
       13. A material comprising:
 a fabric comprising fibers defining a plurality of apertures there through; and 
 a coating material disposed on the fibers, the coating material comprising microprojections with uncoated surfaces extending proximate the apertures; 
 wherein a size of the apertures and presence of the microprojections are effective to act as a barrier to insects while allowing air and light to pass there through. 
 
     
     
       14. A material comprising:
 a fabric comprising fibers defining a plurality of apertures there through; 
 a coating material disposed on the fibers, the coating material comprising microprojections with uncoated surfaces extending into the apertures, the uncoated surfaces of the microprojections effective to abrade or absorb wax from an exocuticle of an insect manipulating through a respective aperture while allowing light and air to pass through the fabric. 
 
     
     
       15. The material of  claim 14 , wherein the microprojections comprise particles. 
     
     
       16. The material of  claim 15 , wherein the particles comprise a silica material. 
     
     
       17. The material of  claim 14 , wherein the coating is thin enough so that the microprojections remain upstanding from the coating surface. 
     
     
       18. The material of  claim 14 , further comprising a chemical pest attractant. 
     
     
       19. The material of  claim 14 , further comprising a pathogen. 
     
     
       20. The material of  claim 14 , wherein the coating comprises at least one of a latex, acrylic, thermoplastic, or thermoset material. 
     
     
       21. The material of  claim 14 , wherein the material comprises at least one of a net, a blanket, a hairnet, or a filter. 
     
     
       22. The material of  claim 21 , wherein the material comprises a mosquito net. 
     
     
       23. The material of  claim 14 , wherein a ratio of a size of the microprojections to a thickness of the coating is greater than 1:1. 
     
     
       24. The material of  claim 14 , wherein the microprojections comprise one or more particulate materials with each particulate material being effective to abrade the exocuticle and to absorb wax from the exocuticle of the insect. 
     
     
       25. The material of  claim 14 , wherein the microprojections comprise one or more first particulate materials effective to abrade the exocuticle in combination with one or more second particulate materials effective to absorb wax from the exocuticle of the insect. 
     
     
       26. The material of  claim 14 , wherein the microprojections comprise a mixture of particulate materials that abrade the exocuticle of the insect, particulate materials that absorb wax from the exocuticle of the insect, and particulate materials that both abrade and absorb wax from the exocuticle of the insect.